Charles Wilhite, 33, of Springfield, has sued two city police detectives in federal court for civil rights violations, arguing the officers coerced witnesses, leading to a false murder conviction in 2010.

Elizabeth Rodriguez Ross said Nathan Perez, now 23, believed if he didn't identify Wilhite as the shooter at Wilhite's first trial, he would be charged with accessory after the fact of murder for picking up shell casings.